Compartmented door



Nov. 8, 1966 M. KENDRICK ETAL 3,283,443

COMPARTMENTED DOOR Filed May 14, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Mateo/v {awe/ct BY 1 44; 5, 4 54 ArraeNt/fl Nov. 8, 1966 M. KENDRICK ETAL 3,283,443

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Patented Nov. 8, 1966 a corporation Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,431 Claims. (Cl. 49-62) Our invention relates to doors particularly useful in hetels and like accommodations arranged so that the door may be utilized for ingress and egress by the occupants of a room and can also be utilized for storing articles such as clothing and the like in a portion of the door and for passing articles through a portion of the door for service purposes. A door of this sort is shown in the copending application of Hollis L. De Vines for a Service Door, Serial No.250,39l filed January 9, 1963, now Patent No. 3,208,562 and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

An object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door having an appearance and a general operation much like a standard door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door which can easily be operated even by those previously unfamiliar with devices of the sort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door in which the possibility of jamming a compartment door in the door frame is precluded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door in which there is an adequate interlock between the outside access and the inside access to the storage compartment, so that unauthorized ingress and egress cannot be accomplished.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door which is attractive in appearance, quiet in operation and is in keeping with the high standards of modern building construction and equipment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a compartmented door that can readily be fabricated and installed and which requires little or no maintenance or mechanical attention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed yet secure compartmented door.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the compartmented door from the inside of a room with which it is utilized;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section to an enlarged scale, the horizontal plane of section being indicated by the line 22 of FIGURE 1, parts of the figure being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section, the horizontal plane of which is indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 1, the scale being the same as that utilized in FIGURE 2 and the two figures being complementary;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section, the planes of which are indicated by the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 2, portions of the figure being broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, portions being broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 99 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a cross section, the planes of which are indicated by the lines 10-10 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 11 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 1111 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 12 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 1212 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 13 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 1313 of FIGURE 10.

While there are many forms in which a compartmented door can be embodied for practical use, the one disclosed herein finds commercial utilization in a hotel installation. In this environment the door is disposed between a hallway 6 and a room 7 divided by a partition wall 8. Disposed in and forming part of the partition wall 8 is a door frame 9, conveniently fabricated of metal and outlining a door opening 10 defined by a pair of upright, parallel sides 11 and 12 and by a horizontal top 13, the opening extending to the floor 14.

Disposed to block the door opening 10 in one position and to leave the opening free in another position is a panel frame 16. This is shaped like the door opening and comprises a number of metal members including upright stiles 17 and 18 having parallel, upright outside edges substantially meeting with the outlines of the door frame 9 and also comprises horizontal top and bottom members 19 and 21 completing a rectangular enclosure surrounding and defining a central compartment 22. The structure generally is symmetrical about a central horizontal plane represented by the line 25, in FIGURE 1, so that the door can be used for right-hand or left-hand installation by rotation about a perpendicular, central axis.

Partly located in the compartment 22 and extending.

outwardly therefrom in both directions is a lock unit 23 preferably mounted in a central enlargement 24 of the stile 18 of the panel frame. The lock unit includes a latch bolt unit 26 interengaging with a strike 27 in the door frame 9.

Mounted on the panel frame adjacent the lock unit 23 is a pair of bowl-like disks 28 and 29 located respectively on the outside and the inside of the panel frame. Each of the disks is provided with a margin 31 having a sealing gasket 32 around its circular periphery. The disks do not extend outwardly as far as the knobs 33 of the lock unit, but do extend outwardly a substantial distance from the panel frame.

In order to supplement the volume of the central compartment 22 and to serve as an auxiliary exterior or outer compartment, there is provided an outer housing 36 preferably inclusive of a metal exterior panel 37, a metal interior panel 38 and intervening sound and fireproofing material 39. The outer housing 36 is generally quite flat or planar, is generally rectangular in elevation and covers susbstantially all of the panel frame, stopping slightly short of the marginal edges thereof. The outer housing is sufficiently extensive to cover and extend beyond all of the compartment 22.

Adjacent one edge, the outer housing 36 is provided with a concealed hinge 41 secured to the hinge stile 17 of the panel frame, so that the outer housing can swing about the hinge axis 42 relative to the panel frame. The hinge is continuous and acts as a fire stop. Since the axis 42 of the hinge 41 is laterally and outwardly displaced from the axis 43 of the hinges 44 connecting the panel frame 16 to the door frame 9, the outer housing swings about a different axis and in a different are than the panel frame. The swinging movement is between an outward, open position approximately at right angles to the plane of the panel frame and an inner position in which the edge of a circular opening cut in the outer housing panel 37 tightly abuts the gasket 32 to make a tight closure. A packing strip 45 follows the three remaining sides of the outer compartment and comes into close abutment with the panel frame to effectuate a tight closure in order to act as a fire stop, to avoid sound conduction and to prevent air flow.

So that the outer compartment can be secured in its closed position, it is provided with a key acuated lock 46. Preferably, the key for this lock is of a tubular form not usually encountered and is effective to operate in a specially formed annular opening 47 in the lock body 48. When operated by the key, the lock is effective to move a bolt 49 in an arcuate path between a horizontal locked position and a vertical unlocked position. Moving toward horizontal position, the bolt 49 swings into an inclined slot 51 in a strike plate 52 secured to the panel frame 16 by fastenings 53. Elongated slots 54 in the strike plate permit the movement of the inclined opening 51 up and down so as to vary the vertical and transverse point of engagement of the lock bolt 49. By adjusting the strike plate vertically, the amount of camming of the lock bolt 49 can be varied. More or less of a compressive force can thus be imposed upon the gasket 32 and the packing strip 45 to secure a tight closure.

The outer compartment, being centrally offset from the panel frame, affords an augmentation of the volume of the central compartment 22 when the outer housing and the panel frame are considered together as one unit. When the lock 46 is in its unlocked position, the outer housing 36 can swing away from the panel frame in order to afford access from the hall side to the central compartment.

If the outer housing 36 remains in the plane of the door frame 9 while the panel frame swings into the room about its hinge axis 43, the centers and radii are such that the free edge 56 of the outer housing can be moved laterally or transversley far enough to abut the door frame. The movable members act as a toggle and after initial abutment jamming may result. To preclude'this undesirable occurrence, the outer housing is related to the panel frame not only by the hinge 41, but also by a pair of pivotally mounted toggle linkages 57 and 58 arranged symmetrically at the top and bottom of the structure and provided with springs 59. These can be closing springs so that the outer housing even though unlocked moves with the panel frame and so cannot jam against the door frame. Alternatively, these can be opening springs so that, when unlocked, the outer housing swings far away from the panel frame to the extent limited by the toggle linkages 57 and 58; for example, ninety degrees to the panel frame. Since the outer housing is thus not near the door frame, the difficulty or danger of jamming is thus precluded.

The central compartment is also augmented by an inner compartment having a housing 61 comprising an outer metal sheet 62, an inner metalsheet 63 and an intervening sound and fireproofing layer 64. The inner housing is centrally offset in order to provide a considerable enlargement of the compartment. The inner housing is mounted on a concealed hinge 66 extending along one compartment edge parallel to the hinge axis 43. The hinge 66, being continuous, serves as a fire stop, also. The inner compartment has a depressed portion 67 to allow easy approach to the inner knob 33 and has a flange 68 defining a circular opening 69 in the outer sheet 62. The flange can be brought into close abutment with the gasket 32 around the disk 29. The inner compartment thus swings about its own hinge axis. This swinging motion is limited by toggle levers 70 and 71 symmetrically mounted at the top and bottom of the outer compartment and connected to the panel frame. Springs can be provided, if desired, as with the outer compartment but are usually omitted.

In order to secure the inner housing in its closed position against the panel frame, there is provided an appropriate latching mechanism. The panel frame 16 near its top and bottom and on its stile 18 is provided with a pair of adjustable stops 72 and 73 of generally conical contour. shoulder 74 thereon. base 75 and is retained by a lock nut'76. The inner housing is provided with appropriate openings 77 to overlie the stops 72.

Disposed adjacent the openings 77 and designed to slide vertically on the inner housing between the outer edge and the lock unit 23 is a straight latch bar 78. The bar is a channel and is formed with key hole slots therein so that the latch bar can be slipped over the heads 81 of guide mounts 82 secured to the inner compartment by fastenings 83. Circumferential slots 74 in the guide mounts serve to guide and constrain the slide 78 to vertical motion. Adjacent each one of the latch stops 72, the slide carries one of a pair of stirrups 86. These are alike and each is urged downwardly by a coil spring 87 bearing on the stirrup at one end and bearing against a tab 88 at the other end. The tab is struck inwardly from the ma terial of the slide 78.

To constrain the stirrup 86 and toserve as an antifriction member, a roller 89 having journal ends 91 passing through the stirrup also is confined in slots 92- in the walls of the latch bar channel. The spring 87 urges the roller 89 toward the adjacent stop 72. When'the inner housing is swung toward the panel frame, the roller 89 encounters the conical stop 72 and rides over the cone, compressing the spring 87 until the roller is behind the latching shoulder 74. Thereupon the spring expands to hold the roller in place and acts against the latch bar 78 which is urged downwardly by gravity. The inner housing is thus held in close juxtaposition to the panel frame. Since the conical stops 72 are adjustable, the inner housing can be brought closely adjacent the panel frame so that top and bottom gaskets 93 therearound are effective as seals.

In order that the latch bar 78 can be effectively operated to release the inner housing from the panel frame, the inner housing is provided with a slot 96 to accommodate an arm 97 joined by a fastener .to a block connected to the latch bar between tabs thereon. The arm terminates in an exterior tubular handle 98. When the handle 98 is lifted, the latch bar is correspondingly lifted to free the rollers 89 from the latching shoulders, and the inner housing can be swung about its hinge axis to afford access to the interior.

Means are provided for affording an indication of the presence of stored articles within the interior compartment. For example, in a hotel installation, a valet or bellman opens the outer compartment and places garments within the enclosure for the use of the room oceupant. compartment and remove the garments. To afford an indication that the garments are available, a Window aperture 101 is provided in the material of the inner housing. A slide 102 mounted on the latch bar 78 is movable thereon between two positions. In one position,

These are similar and each has a latching. Each stop is mounted by a threaded The room occupant can then open the inner.

a red or other colored target 103 on the slide is brought into view behind the window 101. In another position of the slide 102 the target 103 is out of registry with the window 101. The slide 102 is formed with a number of spring fingers 106 bent around the sides of the channelshaped latch bar. The slide is readily translatable along the bar by superior force but is held against casual dislodgement in either of its extreme positions by springu-rged frictional engagement.

Mounted on the panel frame is a swinging lever 108 movable on a pivot pin 109 and having a heavy handle portion 110 projecting a short distance for easy access. The lever is normally urged by gravity to lie against the upper end of a slot 115. When the latch bar 78 is raised toward its uppermost position, the slide 102 is raised therewith. Normally, the lever 108 is out of the way, but if not, the slide in rising forces a spring extension 111 on the slide to abut a nose 112 on the lever 108. Thereafter, the lever 108 rotates along with the raising of the slide and the latch bar so that the handle 110 swings lower. Finally, the rising slide lodges in an upper position. A spring finger 113 at the end of the spring extension 111 moves into a notch 114 cut in the inner compartment frame. Even though the latch bar is lowered thereafter, the slide 102 is retained in its uppermost position with the red tar-get 103 lifted out of registry with and invisible through the window 101.

When the attendant places garments within the compartment from the hall side, he manually lifts the lever 110 from the lower position into the upper position. This motion causes a cam surface 116 at the end of the lever near the nose 112 to ride against the end of the finger 113 of the spring extension 111 and to move the finger end out of the notch *1'14. Further movement of the lever 110 then causes the nose 112 to move the slide 102 frictionally downwardly on the latch bar 78 until the red target 103 is in registry with and is visible through the opening 101. Subsequent raising of the latch bar by manipulation of the handle 98 when the inner housing is to be swung open to afford access to its contents then restores the slide 102 to its upper, notched and retained position. This removes the red target from the opening 101. In this fashion, there is afforded an indication of the presence of articles within the compartment.

There is also provided an interlock to make sure that the outer compartment cannot be opened even by use of a key unless the inner compartment is in its closed position. This is to'prevent unwarranted access to the room 7 through the central compartment. The panel frame at a convenient point is provided with an extensible through rod 121. This is made up of a headed bolt 122 threaded in an internally threaded sleeve 123 and locked in a predetermined position by a threaded set screw 124. The head of the bolt 122 is urged to extend into the path of closure of the inner housing by means of a spring 126 centered on a boss 127 upstanding from an interlock body disposed against the outer housing.

The spring 126 bears against an intermediate latch lever 128. In turn, the latch lever rests against the tubular sleeve 123 of the through rod. The latch lever 128 at its upper end is pivoted to swing about a pin 129 passing through outstanding ears 131 on the interlock body and is contoured to afford a notch 132 limiting the motion of the latch by contact with a stop 133 pin. Adjacent the center of the latch lever 128 the-re is provided an outstanding foot 134. V

In the retracted position of the latch, the foot 134 is entirely out of the rotational path of the latch bolt 49 and the latch bolt can be freely rotated and the outer compartment locked and unlocked. However, when the inner compartment is open or has started to open, the spring 126 displaces the through rod 121 and also permits the latch 128 to swing under spring force and position the foot 134 in the path of rotation of the latch bolt 49. Thus despite the insertion of a key in the lock opening 47, the latch bolt 49 cannot be rotated and the outer compartment cannot be opened with respect to the panel frame. The outer compartment can only be unlocked when the inner compartment is in its closed position and the spring 126 has been again compressed and the latch lever 128 swung into a position so that the foot 134 is out of the path of the latch bolt 49.

The outer compartment can be easily opened by use of the proper key when the inner compartment is closed, but the inner compartment cannot ever be opened from the outside. The latch bar 78 and the handle mechanism are entirely separated from or isolated from the compartment 22 by an angle barrier I136. This serves also as a fire stop as it extends for nearly the full height of the stile 18, being augmented by appropriate packing strips at the top and bottom. The latch bar can only be operated by manipulation of the handle bar 98 when the inner compartment is closed. While the central compartment 22 may remain simply as an enclosure,

it is preferably provided with various appropriate service fittings; for example, ,a shelf and hanger bracket 141 at the top and a ventilated receptacle 142 at .the bottom.

What is claimed is:

1. A compartmented door for use in a door frame comprising a panel frame having a compartment opening therein and having a pair of upright edges, means for hinging said panel frame to said door frame adjacent one of said edges, an inner housing overlying said compartment opening and extending substantially to the other one of said edges, means for hinging said inner housing to said panel frame adjacent said one edge, a pair of locking lugs on said panel frame adjacent the top and bottom thereof, an upright locking bar on said inner housing adjacent said other edge vertically movable into and out of locking engagement with said lugs, and means extending between said panel frame and said inner housing in closed position thereof for isolating said locking bar from said compartment opening.

2. A compartmented door as in claim 1 in which said isolating means is a wall outstanding from said panel frame.

3. A compartmented door for use in a door frame comprising a panel frame having a compartment opening therein and having a pair of upright edges, means for hinging said panel frame to said door frame adjacent one of said edges, a lock unit on said panel frame adjacent the other of said edges, said lock unit projecting from opposite sides of said panel frame, an outer housing overlying said compartment opening and extending substantially to the other one of said edges, said outer housing having an aperture therein surrounding a projecting portion of said lock unit, means for hinging said outer housing to said panel frame adjacent said one edge, an inner housing overlying said compartment opening and extending substantially to the other one of said edges,

said inner housing having an aperture therein surrounding a projecting portion of said lock unit, means for hinging said inner housing to said panel frame adjacent said one edge, a pair of locking lugs on said panel frame adjacent the top and bottom thereof, an upright locking bar on said inner housing between said aperture and said other edge vertically movable into and out of locking engagement with said lugs, a barrier on said panel frame between said compartment opening and said locking bar for rendering said locking bar inaccessible from said compartment opening, a lock on said outer housing movable between a first position engaging said outer housing with said panel frame and a second position releasing said outer housing from said panel frame, and means effective when said locking bar has been moved out of locking engagement with said lugs and said inner housing is moved away from said panel frame to hold said outer lock in said first position.

4. A compartmented door as in claim 3 in which said means to hold said outer lock in said first position includes a'through rod in the path of closure of said inner housing, and meansfor mounting said through rod to yield resiliently toclosing movement of said inner houslng.

5. A compartmented door as in claim 4 in which said mounting means positions said through rod to yield only upon the final closing movement of said inner housing against said panel frame;

'8 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 215,439 5/1879 Crane 2016 X 1,222,963 4/1917 Matchette 2016.4 1 1,686,831 10/1928 Matchette 2016.4 2,033,806 3/1936 Baker et al. 2,197,103 4/1940 Gray.

2,518,141 8/1950 Hiler.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A COMPARTMENTED DOOR FOR USE IN A DOOR FRAME COMPRISING A PANEL FRAME HAVING A COMPARTMENT OPENING THEREIN AND HAVING A PAIR OF UPRIGHT EDGES, MEANS FOR HINGING SAID PANEL FRAME TO SAID DOOR FRAME ADJACENT ONE OF SAID EDGES, AND INNER HOUSING OVERLYING SAID COMPARTMENT OPENING AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE OTHER END OF SAID EDGES, MEANS FOR HINGING SAID INNER HOUSING TO SAID PANEL FRAME ADJACENT SAID ONE EDGE, A PAIR OF LOCKING LUGS ON SAID PANEL FRAME ADJACENT THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF, AN UPRIGHT LOCKING BAR ON SAID INNER HOUSING ADJACENT SAID OTHER EDGE VERTICALLY MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LUGS AND MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PANEL FRAME AND SAID INNER HOUSING IN CLOSED POSITION THEREOF FOR ISOLATING SAID LOCKING BAR FROM SAID COMPARTMENT OPENING. 